福爾摩斯探案集·血字的研究 第66期:逃命(5)

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John Ferrier felt that instant death would be better than the suspense which shook his nerves and chilled his heart.

約翰·費(fèi)瑞厄這時(shí)覺(jué)得痛痛快快的死也比這種使人膽戰(zhàn)心寒、晝夜不寧的折磨要好些。

Springing forward, he drew the bolt and threw the door open.

于是，他便跳上前去，拔下門閂，把門打開了。

Outside all was calm and quiet. The night was fine, and the stars were twinkling brightly overhead.

門外一平靜寂。夜色朗朗，點(diǎn)點(diǎn)繁星在頭上閃爍發(fā)光。

The little front garden lay before the farmer's eyes bounded by the fence and gate, but neither there nor on the road was any human being to be seen.

老人眼前出現(xiàn)的只是一個(gè)庭前花園，花園周圍有一道籬垣，還有一個(gè)門。但是，無(wú)論在花園中，或是在大路上，都不見(jiàn)一個(gè)人影。

With a sigh of relief, Ferrier looked to right and to left, until, happening to glance straight down at his own feet,

費(fèi)瑞厄左右瞧了一下，輕松地吁了一口氣，放下了心。但是，他無(wú)意中向腳下一瞧，

he saw to his astonishment a man lying flat upon his face upon the ground, with arms and legs all asprawl.

不覺(jué)大吃一驚；只見(jiàn)一個(gè)人趴在地上，手腳直挺挺地伸展著。

So unnerved was he at the sight that he leaned up against the wall with his hand to his throat to stifle his inclination to call out.

他看到這副情景，恐懼已極。他靠在墻上，用手按著自己的喉嚨，才沒(méi)有喊出聲來(lái)。

His first thought was that the prostrate figure was that of some wounded or dying man,

最初，他以為這個(gè)趴在地上的人可能是個(gè)受傷的，或者是將死的人。

but as he watched it he saw it writhe along the ground and into the hall with the rapidity and noiselessness of a serpent.

但是，他仔細(xì)一瞧，只見(jiàn)他在地上手足移動(dòng)，蛇一樣迅速無(wú)聲地爬行著，一直爬進(jìn)了客廳。

Once within the house the man sprang to his feet, closed the door, and revealed to the astonished farmer the fierce face and resolute expression of Jefferson Hope.

這個(gè)人一爬進(jìn)屋內(nèi)，便立刻站了起來(lái)，把門關(guān)上。原來(lái)出現(xiàn)在這個(gè)目瞪口呆的老農(nóng)面前的卻是杰弗遜·侯波那張兇狠的臉和他的那副堅(jiān)決的表情。

"Good God!" gasped John Ferrier. "How you scared me! Whatever made you come in like that?"

"天哪！"約翰·費(fèi)瑞厄氣咻咻地說(shuō)，"你可把我嚇壞了。你為什么這樣進(jìn)來(lái)？"

"Give me food," the other said, hoarsely. "I have had no time for bite or sup for eight-and-forty hours."

"快給我吃的，"侯波聲嘶力竭地說(shuō)，"兩天兩夜我來(lái)不及吃一口東西。"

He flung himself upon the cold meat and bread which were still lying upon the table from his host's supper, and devoured it voraciously.

主人的晚餐仍舊放在桌上未動(dòng)，于是他跑了過(guò)去，抓起冷肉、面包就狼吞虎咽起來(lái)。

"Does Lucy bear up well?" he asked, when he had satisfied his hunger.

等他吃了一飽以后，他才問(wèn)道："露茜可好嗎？"

"Yes. She does not know the danger," her father answered.

"很好。她并不知道這些危險(xiǎn)。"這位父親回答說(shuō)。

"That is well. The house is watched on every side. That is why I crawled my way up to it.

"那很好。這個(gè)屋子已經(jīng)四面被人監(jiān)視起來(lái)了。這就是我為什么要一路爬了進(jìn)來(lái)的原因。

They may be darned sharp, but they're not quite sharp enough to catch a Washoe hunter."

他們可算是夠厲害的了，可是他們要想捉住一個(gè)瓦休湖的獵人，可還差一點(diǎn)。"

John Ferrier felt a different man now that he realized that he had a devoted ally.

約翰·費(fèi)瑞厄現(xiàn)在完全變成另一個(gè)人了，他知道他可有了一個(gè)忠實(shí)可靠的助手。

He seized the young man's leathery hand and wrung it cordially.

他一把抓住這年輕人粗糙的手，衷心感謝地緊緊握著說(shuō)：

"You're a man to be proud of," he said. "There are not many who would come to share our danger and our troubles."

"你真是個(gè)值得驕傲的人。除你以外，再也沒(méi)有什么人肯來(lái)分擔(dān)我們的危險(xiǎn)和困難了。"

"You've hit it there, pard," the young hunter answered.

這個(gè)年輕獵人回答說(shuō)："您說(shuō)的對(duì)，老先生。

"I have a respect for you, but if you were alone in this business I'd think twice before I put my head into such a hornet's nest.

我是尊敬您的，但是，如果這件事情只是關(guān)系到您一個(gè)人，那么，在我把我的頭伸進(jìn)這樣一個(gè)黃蜂窩里來(lái)以前，我倒要思之再三的。

It's Lucy that brings me here, and before harm comes on her I guess there will be one less o' the Hope family in Utah."

我是為露茜來(lái)的，我想，在他們得手以前，我就能和露茜遠(yuǎn)走高飛了，猶他州也就沒(méi)有姓侯波的這家人了。"

"What are we to do?"

"咱們現(xiàn)在該怎么辦呢？"

"Tomorrow is your last day, and unless you act to-night you are lost.

"明天就是你們最后的一天了，除非今晚就行動(dòng)起來(lái)，否則你們就要來(lái)不及了。

I have a mule and two horses waiting in the Eagle Ravine. How much money have you?"

我弄了一頭騾子和兩騎馬，現(xiàn)在都放在鷹谷那里等著。您有多少錢？"

"Two thousand dollars in gold, and five in notes."

"兩千塊金洋和五千元紙幣。"

"That will do. I have as much more to add to it. We must push for Carson City through the mountains.

"足夠了。此外，我還有這么多錢，可以湊在一起。咱們必須穿過(guò)大山到卡森城去。

You had best wake Lucy. It is as well that the servants do not sleep in the house."

您最好去叫醒露茜。仆人沒(méi)有睡在這個(gè)屋子里，這倒很方便。"